Spinach and coconut soup with roasted chilli oil

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Phantom_Forest

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Ingredients

  • 4 big handfuls of spinach, washed, blanched and shocked
  • 2 leeks, chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 2 red onions, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 piece ginger, grated

Method

Fry leek, celery, onion, garlic and ginger until translucent and fragrant. You can add flavour to suit your personal taste – for example, Chinese Five Spice, Chilli or Moroccan spice will all compliment this dish. Add blanched spinach and coconut milk. Blend all together, garnish and serve.

Garnish

Use a teaspoon of roasted red chilli paste – available at most Asian stores – which you can melt with a little hot water. Add oil, freshly chopped coriander and fresh coconut slivers.

Please note: If reheating, do not bring the soup to the boil as this will change the colour from a vibrant green to a dull grey.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

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Remedial Massage – alleviates those travel aches

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Phantom_Forest

Image by: Ambro/ FreeDigitalPhotos.netImage by: Ambro/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Travelling can be rough on the body, with long hours spent in a car or plane leaving you feeling stressed, tired, stiff and sore. Occasionally even old injuries may start complaining again – not a great way to start your holiday…!

No need to remain frazzled. A Remedial Massage in the Body Boma will help you unwind by soothing any muscles and tendons that have become damaged, impaired, knotted, tense or immobile. This healing treatment can be gentle or strong, deep or shallow – depending on the nature of the discomfort. Several specialised techniques are used to locate and repair damage and to support and speed up the body’s own repair mechanisms. Passive stretching moves may also be included.

The key benefits of a Remedial Massage include the stimulation of the circulation, which aids the elimination of toxins from the muscles; the calming of the peripheral nervous system, which eases pain and discomfort; the reduction of any localised swelling; and the toning and relaxing of muscles, which improves joint mobility.

Whilst focusing on certain areas of the body, a Remedial massage is truly holistic in that it traces the discomfort as far as possible to the original cause, thus healing both cause and symptom. Tissue repair, as well as the easing of stiffness and tension will be experienced through this therapeutic treatment.

To a totally relaxed dream holiday!

 

 

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Phantom’s eco tip #17: Eco-friendly gifts for Mother’s Day

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Phantom_Forest

Danilo Rizzuti's portfolio is: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=851Image by Danilo Rizzuti/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This mother’s day, give your mom an eco-friendly gift that shows your respect for another mother – Mother Earth. We sourced a few ideas to make mom feel really special this Mother’s Day:

  • Create memories with your mom instead of giving her things. Take her to a show, spoil her with a treatment at a spa, take her out to lunch, or organise a picnic for the whole family. Quality time together is a great gift.
  • If your mom loves gardening, give her an indigenous tree or plants for her garden.
  • Pamper mom with a basket of organic bath, hair or skincare products. Visit South Africa Online for a list producers of organic bath and body care products.
  • If your mom isn’t part of the green revolution and is still using chemical-based household cleaners, show her that you care about her – and the family’s – health by giving her a bucket filled with non-toxic household cleaners.
  • If mom enjoys a glass of wine, get her a bottle of organic wine as a gift. South Africa Online has a list of organic wines and wineries. And many will deliver to her door.

There are many great ideas online, and you can get the kids involved in making DIY gifts that don’t cost the earth.

Wishing all the moms out there a happy – and earth-friendly – Mother’s Day!

The Phantom Forest Team

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Phantom’s eco tip #16: How to save petrol

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Phantom_Forest

Saving fuel makes an important contribution towards protecting our environment – as well as saving you money, given the ever-increasing petrol price!

This week’s eco tip is courtesy of Talk Radio 702′s “Green Tip of the Day”

Here are some easy-to-apply suggestions for cutting your fuel consumption:

Travelling at a constant 60  km/h in fifth gear uses 25% less fuel than in third gear

Following the smarter driving tips below could cut your CO2 emissions by around 8%. This could add up to an annual fuel saving of up to one month per year.

Drive at an appropriate speed

Driving at 80 km/h instead of 120 km/h can improve fuel economy by 25%. Driving at slower speeds also gives you time to anticipate traffic ahead, helping you drive more smoothly and safely.

Speed up and slow down smoothly

Every time you stop and start, your engine uses more fuel and produces more emissions. Check the road ahead and slow down early, giving the traffic time to start moving again before you reach it. You can then speed up again without needing to stop.

Change gears at the right time

Changing up gears a little earlier can reduce revs per minute (rpm) and reduce your fuel usage. If you drive a diesel car, try shifting up when the rev counter reaches 2,000 rpm. For a petrol car, change up at 2,500 rpm.
Remember to change down a gear at the right time too – if your car is struggling, it will also use more fuel.

Avoid leaving your engine running

If you’re likely to be at a standstill for more than three minutes, switch off the engine. When the engine is idling, you’re wasting fuel.

Don’t use air conditioning unless you really need it

Using air conditioning and electrical devices like mobile phone chargers increases your fuel consumption, so keep their usage to a minimum.
Try using the fresh air vent to keep cool and park in the shade on a sunny day. This will keep your car cooler inside and stop fuel evaporating from the engine and fuel tank.

Get in and go

Modern engines are designed to be most efficient when you get in and drive off straight away. Revving them wastes fuel and increases engine wear and emissions.

The Phantom Forest Team

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Phantom’s eco tip #15: Winter Energy Savers

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Phantom_Forest

As winter starts to settle in, a lot of energy can be used keeping your family and your home comfortable.

Between 40 and 70% of all home energy is wasted, but you could save about half of that by taking energy-saving measures. Heaters and geysers are in the top ten energy-users in the home.

Here are some suggestions on how to maximise heat efficiency in your home this winter:

Cover your air conditioner. If you can’t remove your window unit, cover it both inside and out. Besides protecting the unit, the covers will keep cold air from entering your home from outside.

Seal small spaces and gaps around windows, pipes and wires entering your home – this is where energy wasting draughts that cut the efficiency of your heating system come in.

Let the sunshine in. Open curtains and let the sun heat your home for free during the day, and close them as the sun sets to help insulate your home.

Wrap the geyser with jacket insulation. This is especially valuable for older water heaters with little internal insulation. Geyser insulation can save up to 10 percent on water heating costs.

Increase ceiling insulation. If your ceiling is uninsulated or scantily insulated, consider increasing your insulation. You can save between 5-25 percent on heating costs this way.

Save money…and be kind to the planet!

The Phantom Forest Team

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Phantom’s eco tip #14: Avoid plastic-bottled water

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Phantom_Forest

Image by Keattikorn/Freedigitalimages.netImage by Keattikorn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Are you – like many of us – a buyer of bottled water? Collectively we are dumping tens of millions of plastic water bottles a year! But, besides the dire impact plastic bottles have on the environment, is bottled water healthier?

Advertising sells

40 percent of bottled water starts out as tap water. Large beverage companies take the water, run it through filters, and pour it into a bottle with a fancy name and sell it back to you at a price many times more than tap water!

Clever marketing leads us to believe that bottled water is healthier and purer than tap water, but studies have found plenty of bacteria and chemicals in bottled water. Check the label on your water – you may be buying plain tap water. You’d do better to carry filtered water from home with you.

The healthiest option for water “bottles”

Save money and reduce your carbon footprint – buy a stainless steel bottle.

If you still want to use plastic, some plastics are safer than others. Check the bottom of your plastic bottle for a triangle with a number in the middle. This number tells you what type of plastic was used to make the bottle. Certain numbers are safer – as safe as plastic can be – than others.

Quick reference:

SAFE Numbers: 2, 4, 5

UNSAFE Numbers: 1, 3, 6, 7

Tips for bottled water

  • If your water smells like plastic, don’t drink it.
  • Keep your bottled water away from heat or sunlight. Hot plastic is more likely to leech chemicals into the water.
  • Don’t buy water that has been on the shelf longer than six months.
  • Don’t reuse bottles made for single use as they are breeding grounds for bacteria.
  • Use stainless steel or glass whenever possible.
  • Drink tap water. If you’re worried about the quality of your water, fit a water filter, and start carrying tap water in your stainless steel bottle.

Save money…and be kind to the planet!

The Phantom Forest Team

 

 

 


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Grilled Yellowtail with roasted butternut and pine nuts, sage butter, green beans and a mustard cream sauce

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Phantom_Forest
This step-by-step recipe is easy to prepare, and very impressive to serve…while tantalising the tastebuds!

  • Cube the butternut, and roast with salt, pepper and olive oil at 180⁰C until tender and slightly golden. Lightly toss with herbs – especially chives – and pine nuts.
  • To make the sage butter, pick fresh sage leaves and place in melted butter on medium heat until crisp.
  • For the sauce, reduce leeks, garlic, fish stock and a dash of white wine. Strain, and add to the reduced cream. Add whole-grain mustard to taste, as well as a squeeze of lemon juice.
  • Sear the fish in a hot pan. Add butter, lemon juice, herbs and seasoning.
  • Blanch the beans in boiling water, then toss in the sage butter.

Plate up and enjoy!

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Lymphatic Drainage Massage

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Phantom_Forest

Image by: imagerymajestic/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Stumped as to which of our glorious, relaxing massages to indulge in? The Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage is more than mere relaxation – it’s therapeutic as well, and the benefits will be felt for a long time after you’ve left the magical forest…

Within us all there is a silent system working to keep us healthy. Without it, our bodies would swell up like balloons, swamping our cells with stagnant fluid. The impact of this system is so far reaching that many don’t even realise that minor aches and pains, low energy or susceptibility to colds and flu may in fact be due to its sluggishness. This is the Lymphatic System, and an indication of its significance is that your body contains about 50% more lymphatic fluid than blood.

In all our treatments your therapist will give some attention to your lymphatic system – as a natural compliment to existing health care protocols. However, one of our Classic Massages offers a more concentrated approach – this is the Lymphatic Drainage Massage.

To understand how this treatment works, one needs to know a little about the lymphatic system. In a nutshell, its function is to carry numerous substances such as electrolytes, proteins, hormones, toxins, microscopic detritus and immuno-competent cells to the regional lymph nodes. There this fluid is filtered, purified and concentrated. However, chronic inflammation, lack of physical activity, stress, fatigue, emotional shock and age can contribute to slow circulation and even stagnation of the lymph.

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy can facilitate nature by stimulating the natural peristaltic contractions of the two or three layers of muscle located along the lymphatic pathways, known as lymphangions. The effectiveness of the treatment  lies in the therapist’s ability to manually activate the stretch response, significantly increasing the pulsation rate of the lymphangions, and thereby increasing the volume of lymph flow by as much as 30%. As a result of this increased cleansing flow, the body generates more lymphocytes to reinforce the immune system.

Lymphatic drainage massage is a profound yet subtle technique. It is non-invasive and painless, and a light, gentle and pulsing, rhythmic touch is used, which is very relaxing.

The paradox is that such a seemingly superficial technique can have has such a deep impact.

To your good health!

 

 

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The Forest

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Phantom_Forest

Forests have since time immemorial invoked a feeling of the magical and the mysterious, and none more so than the breathtaking Knysna Forest. It is in this beautiful forest setting that Phantom Forest’s eco lodge – including the The Boma and The Chutzpah restaurants – is situated.

The Knysna forest extends along the coast between 22°E and 25°E, generally along 34ºS in a region called the Garden Route –  a popular stretch of the south-eastern coast of South Africa.

This eco-region has a subtropical, warm-temperate climate, and rainfall occurs all year round – ranging from 525 mm to 1220 mm per year.

Phantom Forest Eco Reserve is situated adjacent to the Knysna River, in a private nature reserve that comprises of three biospheres – Afromontane, Cape Coastal Fynbos and Estuarine Wetland.

The Afromontane (meaning African mountain) forest is a plant community (biome) that forms an important part of the vegetation of the Garden Route.

The forest is characterised by trees such as the Yellowwoods – which can often be seen growing well above the other species, Stinkwood (Ocotea bullata), White Pear (Appodytes dimidiata subsp. dimidiata), Terblanz Beech (Faurea macnaughtonii), and the Assegai Tree (Curtisia dentata).

The forest can be further divided into different types, and follows the general rule-of-thumb that there is a greater diversity of species in the lower altitude forests than in that of the higher altitudes (this is also true for younger stands of forest, which generally have more species than the older forests).

The Afromontane forests are usually found at altitudes below 1 000 metres, in areas that are protected from wind and fire, and in soil that is deeper, more fertile, and more able to retain moisture than the soil in which the fynbos thrives. Annual rainfall in these areas is more than 625 mm. These forests are generally not damaged by the periodic fires – partly because of the higher rainfall, but also because their leaves and woody parts are more resilient than those of the fynbos plants.

Afromontane forests occur in most of the mountains along Africa’s Indian Ocean seaboard, in a patchwork of small, relatively isolated areas, or “forest islands”. The important tree species are common to all of these “islands” throughout the range (there are only about 500 000 hectares of indigenous forest in the whole of South Africa – covering about 0.5% of the total land mass).

The largest continuous example of Afromontane forest in South Africa – and therefore the most important within the Cape Floral Kingdom – is the Knysna Forest, which covers an area of just less than 60 000 hectares between George and The Tsitsikamma National Park.

The forests are home to African Elephant (read all about the search for the elusive Knysna Elephants), Leopard, Bushbuck, Blue Duiker, Bushpig, Vervet Monkey and other mammals. A rich assortment of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects also reside there.

The Knysna forest has been exploited for valuable timber since the 18th century. Although managed timber harvesting is allowed today, the forests now fall within protected areas.

The Phantom Forest Team

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Water is Life – Conserve it, Respect it, Enjoy it!

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Phantom_Forest

Image by: seaskylab/freedigitalphotos.net

Every year during March, the Department of Water Affairs celebrates National Water Week in South Africa, and World Water Day takes place on 22 March.

5-11 March 2012 was National Water Week, and this year’s campaign focused on raising awareness among South Africans about the role of water in social and economic development, and the importance of conserving and respecting our water resources.

Here are some small tips that can make a big difference if we all do our bit!

Get Water-Wise:

  • Monitor your water usage in the home. When buying appliances, choose those that can be adjusted according to load size. Run your washing machine or dishwasher only when it is full.
  • Recycle grey water by using it to water the garden.
  • Install low-flow toilets, or convert your toilet to a low-flush toilet.
  • Replace shower-heads with water-efficient models.
  • Turn off taps tightly after use, and replace worn washers regularly.
  • Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
  • Don’t water your garden on a windy day when most of the water blows away or evaporates.
  • Avoid recreational water toys that need a constant flow of water.
  • Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving – and save nearly 100 litres a month!
  • Install covers on pools and Jacuzzis, and check for leaks around the pumps.
  • Wash fruit and vegetables in a basin of water instead of using running water from the tap.

The Phantom Forest Team

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